Adapter device for containers for contamination-free removal of the contents thereof

ABSTRACT

An adapter device for the contamination-free removal of a material from a container ( 1 ), wherein the adapter device has a base body ( 5 ) which can be connected to the container ( 1 ) in a sealing fashion via an open section while surrounding a closure of the container ( 1 ), wherein the base body ( 5 ) has two intrusions ( 3 ) by way of which the material present in the container ( 1 ) can be accessed without coming into contact with the material, and at least one additional intrusion ( 4 ) into which the sample taken via the intrusion ( 3 ) may be guided, and wherein the adapter device is made of a textile or plastic material, for example, a film that is able to be tied-off and separated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to an adapter device for a container and a method for the contamination-free removal of the content of said container using the adapter device.

2. Description of Related Art

For some years, a number of materials have been in use which pose a high risk of contamination to the environment when they come in contact with it or to the persons working with them, and which must have a specific degree of purity for their usage or reprocessing. Such materials, which can be either starting materials, intermediate products or end products, are transported, stored or delivered in various types of containers such as, for example, barrels or sacks. In some cases, it can be necessary to remove a sample of the substances from the corresponding containers. Such sampling is carried out to determine the quality or the degree of purity of the starting materials, intermediate products or end products. Many branches of industry also conduct such sampling to check the production processes.

Ventilation cabinets having a specific air flow in which the user opens a corresponding container and removes a sample of the substance are used as the conventional solution for taking samples, in which case the user and the ventilation cabinet become contaminated with the substance. If the substance to be tested is a hazardous substance, the user must not come in contact with the hazardous substance, thus eliminating the use of a ventilation cabinet with specific air flow. In this case, isolators are used into which the user can grasp via glove inserts and remove a sample from the isolator via a lock system.

In addition to sampling, it can also be necessary to remove a partial quantity or the entire contents from the container, e.g., for weighing or for transferring the contents to a next stage. Ventilation cabinets having a specific air flow to avoid any contamination of the environment or isolators to protect the user are also used during this removal or partial removal. Disadvantages of these technologies are that the ventilation cabinets or isolators must be cleaned when a substance is of a different type to the previous one, whereby costs are incurred and that a ventilation cabinet or isolator must be erected at each site at which substances in containers are to be checked or removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an adapter device and a method which makes it possible to remove a specific quantity of a substance present in a container without endangering the user and without contaminating the environment.

This object is achieved according to the invention by an adapter device having a base body which can be sealingly connected to the container via an open section surrounding a closure of the container, wherein the base body has two gloves via which the substance present in the container is accessible without coming into contact with the substance, and at least one sampling bag into which the sample taken via the gloves can be guided, and wherein the base body is formed in the region of the open section from a material which can be tied off and separated.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) connecting the adapter device to a container via the open         section of the base body;     -   (b) opening the container containing the substance via the         adapter device;     -   (c) discharging a desired quantity of the substance via the         adapter device;     -   (d) separating the adapter device from the container by forming         two tied-off points in the region of the open section and         separating material of the open section between the tied-off         points.

The basic idea of the invention is to provide an adapter device which comprises a base body which is connected to a container to be emptied and at least one tubular intrusion via which the substance present in the container is accessible.

This intrusion can furthermore serve as a lock which functions in such a manner that some of the substances is drawn into the intrusion and the intrusion is tied off twice at an arbitrary location and then is separated between the tie-off locations, the substance can be removed free from contamination and without endangering the user.

In addition, the main body can have an extended section into which the container is partially or completely emptied, wherein these removed quantities of the substance can again be separated from the container by tying off twice and separating between the tie-off locations free from contamination and without endangering the user.

Furthermore, the base body of the device can have a connection via which the substance present in the container can be supplied to a next stage.

Preferred embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows the adapter device of a first embodiment before connecting to the container containing the substance,

FIG. 2 shows the adapter device connected to the container to be emptied,

FIG. 3 shows the opening of the container to be emptied,

FIG. 4 shows sampling via one of the intrusions,

FIG. 5 shows the contamination-free separation of the sample from the adapter device,

FIG. 6 shows the closing of the container containing the substance via two intrusions,

FIG. 7 shows the contamination-free separation of the adapter device from the container,

FIG. 8 shows the closed container and the separated adapter device,

FIGS. 9 a-9 d show the removal of the remainder of an adapter device by means of a further adapter device for the purpose of a further sampling or a further emptying,

FIG. 10 schematically shows a second embodiment of the adapter device,

FIG. 11 shows the adapter device according to the second embodiment connected to the container containing the substance to be removed,

FIG. 12 shows a partial emptying of the container containing the substance by means of the adapter device according to the second embodiment,

FIG. 13 shows the adapter device according to the second embodiment prepared for separation and tied off twice,

FIG. 14 shows the adapter device according to the second embodiment separated between the tie-off locations,

FIGS. 15 a-15 e show a complete emptying of the container containing the substance using the adapter device according to the second embodiment, and

FIGS. 16 a-16 f show the complete emptying of the container containing the substance using the connection of the adapter device according to the second embodiment for transferring the substance to the next stage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention wherein the adapter device comprises a base body 5 having an open section, intrusions 3 and at least one intrusion 4. In FIG. 1, the adapter device is not yet connected to a container 1 which contains another container 2.

With reference to FIG. 2, the base body 5 is fastened via its open section to the container 1 by means of a fastening apparatus 8, preferably an O-ring. Via the intrusions 3, the user can open the closure of the container 2, as shown in FIG. 3. Should the container I not contain another container 2, the adapter device can likewise be used. In this case, the closure of the container 1 must only be removed after fastening the adapter device and after removing the sample, and must be placed on the container again before removing the adapter device.

For reasons of practical relevance, however, it is assumed in the further description that the substance is present in another container 2 within the container 1. The container 2 which contains the substance is also fastened by means of a fastening apparatus 9 which is applied from outside around the adapter device (FIG. 3). After fastening the container 2, the substance contained in the container 2 is accessible via the intrusions 3, 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the user can remove a sample from the container 2 via one of the intrusions 3, 4, the removal being made via intrusion 4 in FIG. 4, and then the removed sample is withdrawn into the intrusion 4 which is pulled out from the adapter device. In order to separate the sample taken from the container 1 by means of the adapter device free from contamination, the intrusion 4 is tied off twice and separated between the tie-off locations (FIG. 5).

After a sufficient quantity for a sample has been removed from the container 2, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner container 2 is closed by means of the intrusions 3 after removing the fastening apparatus 9. At this point in time, the intrusion 4 need not yet have been separated between the tie-off locations since this can take place after closing the container 2. If further sampling is not desired via one of the intrusions 3, the adapter device can also be tied off twice above the container 1 and separated between the tie-off locations, with the result that the container 1 is separated free from contamination from the adapter device (FIG. 7).

If the adapter device has been fastened to a container 1 having a container 2, after removing the lid, the remainder of the adapter device (residual film) which closes the container 1 is not removed again until the next removal of substance. Should it be desirable to remove the residual film, for example, to place a closure on the container 1 or to take a sample, this can also be achieved free from contamination by means of the adapter device, as shown in FIGS. 9 a-9 d, by enclosing the residual film by an adapter device attached to the container 1 (FIG. 9 a) and drawing the remainder of the previous adapter device together with its fastening into the intrusion 4 like a sample and separating from the container 1 free from contamination by tying off twice and separating between the tie-off locations of the intrusion 4 (FIG. 9 c and FIG. 9 d).

FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the invention wherein the base body 5 further has an extended section 6 and a connection 7. With reference to FIG. 11, the adapter device is again connected to the container 1 by means of a connecting apparatus 8 as in the first embodiment via an open section of the base body 5. If the overcontainer 1 should again have a container 2 this can be opened via the intrusions 3 and fastened by means of a fastening apparatus 9. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, some of the content of the container 2 can be poured into the extended section 6 of the base body of the adapter device which is positioned, for example, on scales 10. For this emptying process, it is advantageous to draw the intrusions 3 into the interior space of the base body to prevent the intrusions 3 being filled up with the substance. After the desired quantity of the substance has been poured into the extended section 6, this can again be tied off twice (FIG. 13) and separated between the tie-off locations, with the result that the desired portion of the substance can be separated from the container with the adapter device (FIG. 14). If desired, the adapter device can be separated from the container 1 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In FIGS. 15 a-15 e the second embodiment of the invention is used in the same way as in FIGS. 11 to 14 except that the intrusions 3 are not drawn into the interior space, but are tied off to prevent the intrusions 3 being filled up with the substance and the container 1 is emptied completely into the extended section 6 of the base body. The adapter device is likewise separated from the container 1 by tying off twice and separating between the tie-off locations from the extended section 6, wherein the tying off twice can be executed above or below the intrusions 3 as desired.

Furthermore, both embodiments with reference to FIG. 16 a-16 f and FIG. 1 can have a connection 7, the second embodiment being shown in FIGS. 16 a-16 f. This connection 7 can serve as a connection to another stage. After the adapter device has been connected to the container as in the preceding embodiments, the connection 7 can be connected to the next stage 11 (FIG. 16 b) to which the substance is to be supplied and after opening the connection 7, the substance present in the container 1 or 2 is supplied to the next stage 11 (FIGS. 16 c and 16 d). The empty container 1 can again be separated from the next stage 11 by tying off twice and separating between the tie-off locations (FIGS. 16 a and 16 f).

As can be understood from the above description of the two embodiments, the entire adapter device can be formed from a uniform material which has the required strength and flexibility. Non-limiting examples of materials are, for example, film materials which can be transparent or non-transparent, any other suitable type of plastic materials and textile materials which have the necessary properties such as, for example, permeability etc.

The entire adapter device is preferably formed from a uniform material, but it is also possible to form different sections such as, for example, the base body 5, the extension 6, the intrusions 3, 4 from different materials.

It is also mentioned with regard to the tying off of the base body 5 or the intrusions 3, 4 explained in both embodiments, that this can be carried out, for example, using an adhesive tape, cable ties or any other suitable means for tying off.

The dimensions of the adapter device of the first and second embodiment explained above can be selected arbitrarily. That is, for example, the length and the cross-section of the intrusion 4 for drawing a sample, the cross-section and the length of the base body 5 and its open section for connection to a container can be arbitrarily dimensioned.

As a result, an adapter device can be provided which can be collapsed as a result of its formation and thus forms a compact portable adapter device. 

1-8. (canceled)
 9. An adapter device for contamination-free removal of a substance from a container, wherein the adapter device has a base body which can be sealingly connected to the container via an open section surrounding a closure of the container, wherein the base body has two gloves via which the substance present in the container is accessible without coming into contact with the substance, and at least one sampling bag into which the sample taken via the gloves can be guided, and wherein the base body is formed in the region of the open section from a material which can be tied off and separated.
 10. The adapter device according to claim 9, wherein the base body has an extended section into which the container can be at least partially emptied and which is formed from a material which can be tied off and separated.
 11. The adapter device according to claim 9, wherein the base body has a further connection via which the container can be emptied into a next stage.
 12. A method for the contamination-free removal of a substance from a container using an adapter device which comprises a base body which has an open section and at least one intrusion, wherein the base body, in the region of the open section, is formed from a material which can be tied off and separated, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (a) connecting the adapter device to a container via the open section of the base body; (b) opening the container containing the substance via the adapter device; (c) discharging a desired quantity of the substance via the adapter device; (d) separating the adapter device from the container by forming two tied-off points in the region of the open section and separating material of the open section between the tied-off points.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, in step (a), the adapter device is connected to the container by means of a fastening apparatus.
 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein, in step (a), the adapter device is connected to the container by means of an O-ring.
 15. The method according to claim 12 wherein, in step (c), the substance is guided into the intrusion and is discharged, without any contact with the environment, by being tied-off in two locations and separated between said locations.
 16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the base body comprises two gloves and a sampling bag, and in step (b), the container is opened via the gloves, and in step (c), the substance is guided into the sampling bag.
 17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the base body also has an extended section, and in step (c), the substance is guided into the extended section and is discharged by being tied-off in two locations and separated between said locations.
 18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the base body also has a connection, and in step (c), the connection is connected to a next stage, the connection is opened, the substance is supplied to the next stage, and the connection is tied-off in two locations and separated between said locations. 